By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ikere-Ekiti, a sprawling commercial and agrarian community, situated about 10 kilometres from Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital was recently in celebration mood with the yearly New Yam festival otherwise known as Odun Ijesu taking place. The event was held at the palace of the monarch of the town, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti.

•New Yams

The community, which is famous for its rocky terrains, is also home to many prominent Nigerians, who have made their mark in their various fields of endeavour, among whom are, a foremost legal luminary and the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, a renowned poet, Prof Niyi Osundare, a grammy award winner, Helen Folasade Adu (Sade Adu) and numerous professors.

Odun Ijesu, new yam festival, is a common phenomenon among the Ekitis. According to a Chief of the community, Chief James Ayodele Alonge, Odolofin of Ikere-Ekiti, a retired national General Manager of Guinness Nigeria Limited, who is also one of the key organizers of the festival, the Odun Ijesu festival is a common feature of virtually all communities in Ekiti State just as there are varying myths believed to give birth to the yearly celebration.

The event was also graced by the attendance of Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, Ikere Local Government Chairman, Ola Alonge; Provost, College of Education, Dr. Mojisola Oyarekua; the two House of Assembly members from the community, Wale Ayeni and Sunday Akinniyi.

Celebration of wonders of nature

According to him, “This festival is done in virtually all communities in Ekiti. It’s called Odun Ijesu, meaning; New Yam festival. It symbolizes the miraculous fact that it’s only a little yam seedling is planted into the soil but that little one brings out huge tubers. And even though people were surprised, they started to cook and eat the yam. The Kabiyesi ( traditional monarch) ate last and that is why we are thanking God today.”

The Origin

Odolofin who gave a brief history of the origin of the festival, said that it is a yearly ritual of appeasement to Olosun, powerful and helpful man who had sojourned into Ikere and had been of great help to the people.

He said: “ Ikere-Ekiti came into existence about the eleventh century. At a certain period in history, we had a legend called Olosun and our forefathers were worshipping him because he came into town   with enormous powers to protect our people. But after sometime, we betrayed him. His real name was Itiguniti or Olosun.

“So, while we were driving him away, he entered into a major rock among the rocks that dot the rocky landscape of the town. The rock, which till today is called Olosunta. “The consequence of betraying and driving away the Olosun was an outbreak of epidemic in Ikere then and its accompaniment which inlcude famine, small pox and all such plaques.

“As an effort to seek a way out, the Ifa oracle was consulted and it told our forefathers   to continue to worship Olosun in appeasement for our misdeeds towards him. So, we went ahead then to appease him and immediately our forefathers did that, a heavy rain fell on the land and brought plenty as before. And you know when the heavy rain falls, we started immense farming, “ Odolofin recounted.

Following this development, the high Chief appealed to all Ikere indigenes not to forget their homes.

Ritual and homage

The Odolofin as a high Chief of the town, formally performed the ritual that started off the ceremony. Thereafter, Ikere traditional monarch,   Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu,   received homage from traditional chiefs, age-grade groups, market women, local hunters, the oloris, artisan associations, non-indigenes resident in the town and other guests, who joyfully sang folk songs appropriate to their trades and respectfully paid their homage to the monarch.

A rich display of cultural heritage in form of dance, music, performance rituals are witnessed during the homage to the Oba by the variuos groups which includes the Oloris, royal wives as led by the wife of the Ogoga, Olori Olufunmilayo Adejimi Adu.

Oba Adu lauds Fayose

The royal father acknowledged the support of Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy in bringing development to the town through the execution of key capital projects which has made life easier for residents.

The monarch said the development witnessed in Ikere since his enthronement was made possible as a result of the love, support and cooperation he enjoyed from his subjects noting that there is more to be done to make the town a model in Ekiti State.